U.S. patent number 4,227,712 [Application Number 06/011,782] was granted by the patent office on 1980-10-14 for pedal driven vehicle.
Invention is credited to Timber Dick.
United States Patent |
4,227,712 |
Dick |
October 14, 1980 |
Pedal driven vehicle
Abstract
A pedal driven vehicle such as a bicycle which employs
oscillating levers instead of crank type pedals, and endless chain
to which the two pedal levers are respectively connected, one to
each run of the chain by pull and push rods to impart an
oscillatory movement to said chain and in which the oscillating
chain is connected to drive two shafts in opposite directions at
any one time and means including one way drives connecting said
shafts respectively to the drive wheel for propelling said vehicle.
The vehicle also has means for simultaneously moving the
connections between said pull and push rods and the oscillating
levers respectively along the lengths of said levers in the same
direction so as to change the effective leverage of said levers and
to thus change the driving ratio imparted to the propelling wheel
by the drive mechanism.
Inventors: |
Dick; Timber (Burlingame,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
21751940 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/011,782 |
Filed: |
February 14, 1979 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/236; 280/255;
280/258 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62M
1/28 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62M
1/00 (20060101); B62M 1/04 (20060101); B62M
015/00 (); B62M 001/04 (); B62M 001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;280/236,252,253,255,258
;74/217B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
92777 |
|
Jul 1897 |
|
DE2 |
|
650892 |
|
Feb 1929 |
|
FR |
|
200385 |
|
Jul 1923 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Love; John J.
Assistant Examiner: McGiehan; Donn
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hume, Clement, Brinks, Willian
& Olds, Ltd.
Claims
I claim:
1. A pedal driven vehicle such as a bicycle or the like comprising
a frame, propelling means mounted in said frame, a pair of
oscillating pedal levers, an endless chain and two pull and push
rods connected respectively one to each of said oscillating pedal
levers and respectively one to each run of said endless chain so as
to impart oscillatory movement to said endless chain by the
movement of said pedal levers, two parallel shafts, gearing
associated with each of said shafts connected to oscillate with
said endless chain, sprockets associated with each of said shafts
and connected to drive said propelling means, and a one way clutch
associated with one of said shafts and a second one way clutch
associated with the other of said shafts said clutches each being
constructed to alternately drive said sprockets in the same
direction in response to the oscillatory movement of said
gearing.
2. The vehicle defined in claim 1 further characterized in that
said vehicle also has means for simultaneously moving the point of
connection between each of said pull and push rods and its
associated pedal lever along the length of said pedal levers
respectively in the same direction at the same time so as to change
the effective arms of said pedal levers and to thus change the
driving ratio effective to propel said vehicle at any particular
time.
3. The vehicle defined in claim 2 further characterized in that
said means for moving the point of connection between each of said
pull and push rods and its associated pedal lever is manually
controlled by the operator of said vehicle.
4. A vehicle having a frame, at least one driven wheel for
propelling the vehicle and means for driving said wheel, said means
comprising a pair of closely associated spaced rotary shafts
mounted on said frame and disposed in parallel relation and each
having associated therewith a sprocket each of which is connected
to its associated shaft by a one way clutch type connector which
locks the sprocket to its associated shaft when the sprockets
respectively are rotated in the same direction, said sprockets
being disposed in substantially the same plane normal to the axis
of said pair of spaced shafts, a pulley like element mounted on
said frame relatively remote from said pair of sprockets and in
substantially the plane of said pair of sprockets, an endless
sprocket chain disposed over said pulley like element and over one
of said sprockets in such manner that said one sprocket is in
driving engagement with the inside of said chain, said chain
further having a tangential driving association with said other of
said sprockets by engagement between said other sprocket and the
outside of said chain whereby any movement of said chain at any
moment serves to rotate said sprockets respectively in opposite
directions, said chain having relatively long, straight, runs which
extend between said pulley like element and said sprockets, a pair
of pedal levers, and pull and push rods connected between each
pedal lever and one of the runs of said chain respectively said
runs being disposed substantially parallel to the propelling motion
of the foot engaging parts of said pedal levers and another
sprocket chain and associated sprockets connecting said two shafts
respectively and said driven wheel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vehicles which are pedal driven and
particularly to novel and improved pedal driven vehicles such as
bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes, boats, catamarans, and like
vehicles.
This invention is particularly useful as applied to bicycles. In
addition to being embodied in an entirely new bicycle it may be
constructed by employing the frame, seat and wheels of a
conventional bicycle and a kit of parts constituting the novel
driving mechanism of this invention. The driving mechanism can be
readily applied to the conventional bicycle frame to produce a
highly improved bicycle having greatly increased pedalling
efficiency as compared to that of a conventional bicycle.
Numerous pedal drives for bicycles and like vehicles have been
developed in the past and are shown in prior art literature and
many of these relate to efforts to eliminate the relative
inefficiency inherent in the circular path of movement common to
the conventional pedal cranks employed for turning associated drive
sprockets. Improvement in this respect is desirable for two
reasons, the first of which is to provide paths of movement for the
pedals which approximate more closely a straight line movement
which is better adapted to the strongest and longest leg thrust of
the pedalling rider and the second of which is to provide a drive
mechanism which in and of itself has a high mechanical advantage in
its action of converting the leg motion of the rider into the
rotary motion of the driven wheel which propels the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a vehicle of the type
referred to which realizes both of these advantages to a high
degree and which at the same time permits, when toe clips are used,
the lifting movement of one leg to exert a driving force to the
system by adding the lifting force of one leg to the downward
thrust force of the other leg.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved
vehicle of the type described which also is capable of altering the
driving ratio so as to permit a slower propulsion for going up
hills and a faster propulsion when the terrain over which the
vehicle is being propelled permits, and to accomplish such change
in driving ratio not by a step by step shift characteristic of gear
and sprocket drives now in general use, but by a gradual and
continuous smooth change as commanded by the rider of the vehicle
when the bicycle is in motion.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a vehicle such
as a bicycle which has such efficiency that it is capable of pedal
propelled speeds on level ground at significantly greater rates
than that which now can be realized with conventional bicycles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of this invention
which is given by way of example.
FIG. 1 of the drawing is a side elevational view of a bicycle
constructed in accordance with this invention, and;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the cables and
associated means for shifting the drive ratio, and;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the gearing mechanism employed in
the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, and;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the gearing
mechanism for producing the same driving action as that produced by
the gearing illustrated in FIG. 3, and
FIGS. 5 and 6 are front and end elevational views respectively of a
one way clutch drive that may be used with this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The invention may be better understood by referring to the
accompanying drawings as the following description proceeds. It
will be observed from FIG. 1 that the bicycle here illustrated
comprises a frame 10 of conventional construction having main frame
parts 11, 12 and 13 and a front bearing member 15 for accommodating
the oscillating steering movement for the front ground wheel yoke
16. Other frame parts 17 and 17' constitute a rear wheel yoke which
serves as a mounting for the rear wheel bearing 72 for rotatably
supporting a rear ground wheel 19. The front wheel 18 is mounted
for rotation by means of the bearing 20 supported by the front yoke
16. In addition the bicycle is provided a seat 21 of any desired
construction and handle bars 22 which can be gripped by the rider
for support and steering in the conventional manner.
The bicycle frame, seat, and handle bars thus far described are the
same in all essential aspects as those corresponding parts on
bicycles now in general use and in fact it is contemplated that
this invention, where desired, may be applied to existing bicycles
by merely removing the gearing existing on such bicycles and
applying the novel gearing and the driving pedals of this
invention. On the other hand the bicycle of this invention also may
be supplied complete as a new vehicle.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 the gearing mechanism comprises a
pair of parallel shafts 30 and 31 mounted one above the other in
suitable bearings in a bracket member 32 effectively attached to
and carried by the lower part of the bicycle frame. The upper shaft
30 is provided with a sprocket 34 and lower shaft 31 is provided
with a sprocket 35 which sprockets are mounted in substantially the
same vertical plane so as to accommodate and jointly drive a
sprocket chain 36 which also passes in driving relation with
sprocket 37 mounted on the rear ground wheel shaft 72. Thus it will
be seen that as the sprockets 34 and 35 are rotated in clockwise
direction as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the sprocket chain 36 will in
turn rotate the sprocket 37 and the rear ground wheel in a
clockwise direction and thus propel the bicycle forwardly over the
ground.
In addition and as more clearly shown in FIG. 3, shafts 30 and 31
are also provided at their opposite ends with sprockets 40 and 41
each located on its respective shaft so as to cause the sprockets
to be disposed in the same vertical plane and in positive relative
to each other to engage a sprocket chain 50. As shown in FIG. 3
sprocket chain 50 engages the upper sprocket 40 tangentially by
outside contact and the lower sprocket 41 by inside contact
embracing the same in the lower bight of the chain as clearly
illustrated. This driving arrangement results in the two sprockets
40 and 41 at any moment during the movement of the sprocket chain
50 to rotate in opposite directions.
Each of the sprockets 40 and 41 are connected to its respective
shaft by a one way clutch drive such as a ratchet or the like
hereinafter more fully described so that each will drive its
respective shaft when it moves in a clockwise direction as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3, or in other words in a direction to propel the
bicycle forwardly but will be free to turn with respect to their
respective shafts when the sprockets are moved in the opposite
direction.
Sprocket chain 50 in turn passes upwardly and over a pully member
60 mounted for oscillatory movement on a suitable pivot 61 held by
a bracket 62 suitably clamped to and held by the upper bar 11 of
the frame 10.
From this description it will be understood that when the chain 50
is caused to have its opposite flights reciprocated up and down
that the sprockets 40 and 41 will be caused to oscillate but in
opposite directions at any one instant and that the oscillating
sprockets 40 and 41 will in turn cause a clockwise rotation of the
shafts 30 and 31 by virtue of the action of the one way clutch
drives connecting respectively of the sprockets 40 and 41 each to
its associated shaft. It will also be seen that when sprocket 40 is
propelling the bicycle forward, sprocket 41 is idling in a reverse
direction and vice versa with the result that the reciprocating
sprocket chain 50 produces a forward driving thrust on the rear
ground wheel of the bicycle in both directions of the
reciprocation.
In addition to the foregoing and as shown in FIG. 1 it will be
noted that the bicycle is equipped with two pedal levers 70 and 70
one on each side of the bicycle and each mounted for oscillating
movement on pivot 72. As illustrated the pivot is preferably
located at the axis of the rear ground driving wheel. Each pedal
lever is constructed to have a foot engaging part 73 pivoted at the
end of the pedal lever and a slide track 71 for accommodating a
slideable bracket 75 which in turn is provided with a portion for
accommodating a pivot 76 for pivotally connecting the bracket 75 to
a push and pull rod 80. The push and pull rod 80 on one side of the
bicycle is connected to one flight of the reciprocating sprocket
chain 50 by means of a bracket 81 whereas the push and pull rod 80
on the opposite side of the bicycle is connected to the other
flight of the oscillating sprocket chain 50 by means of a similar
bracket 81. The brackets 81 on the opposite flights of the sprocket
chain 50 are attached respectively to pins of the sprocket chain 50
which are so desposed relative to each other that when one pedal
lever is in its maximum lower position, the opposite pedal lever is
in its maximum upper position and vice versa. Also it will be noted
that the oscillating sprocket chain 50 effectively connects the two
pedal levers so that the movement of one causes an equal and
opposite movement of the other and thus the upward pull, by the use
of the toe clips, of the rider by the upward movement of his leg
assists and augments the downward thrust by the rider applied to
his other leg.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that slidable
brackets 75 on the two pedal levers 70 and 70 are mounted to slide
forwardly toward the foot engaging part 73 and in the reverse
direction toward the pivot 72 of each associated pedal lever. Such
movement is under the control of the rider who can manually grip
the operating handle 100 attached to cable 101 and 103 which extend
forwardly of the handle 100 and cables 102 and 104 which extend
rearwardly of the handle.
Mounted on the bicycle frame by suitable brackets are two cable
pulleys 105 and 106. Cable 101 which is shown as the cable on the
right side of the bicycle extends from the point of attachment to
the handle 100 forwardly and over pulley 105 and then rearwardly to
a bracket 107 having two cable passages 108 and 109 therethrough.
Cable 101 passes through passage 108 and then down to a point
adjacent the pivoted end 72 of the pedal lever 70 on the right hand
side of the bicycle. At this point, a bracket 111 having two cable
passages 112 and 113 therethrough is fixedly mounted on the right
hand pedal lever 70. Cable 101 next passes through passage 112 and
extends forwardly along the pedal lever 70 and is attached to the
slideable bracket 75. Cable 102 which is also attached to operating
handle 100 extends rearwardly from the operating handle and through
passage 109 in bracket 107 and thence downwardly to bracket 111 on
the pedal lever 70. At this point it passes through passage 113 in
the bracket 111 forwardly and over the pulley 115 mounted on the
forward end of the pedal lever 70 and thence rearwardly to the
slideable bracket 75 to which it is attached. The portions of
cables 101 and 102 which extend between the brackets 107 and 111
preferably are incased within flexible tubings 116 and 117
respectively attached at their ends to the two brackets 107 and 111
as shown in FIG. 3. From this arrangement it will be seen that when
operating handle 100 is pulled rearwardly by the rider the
slideable bracket 75 on the right side of the bicycle will likewise
move rearwardly and by virtue of being so moved the leverage
exerted by the pedal lever 70 is correspondingly altered.
A duplicate arrangement of cables 103 and 104 are provided for the
left side of the bicycle as shown in FIG. 3 also attached to the
operating handle 100. Cable 103 passes over forward pulley 106
thence rearwardly to bracket 120 which has passages 121 and 122
extending therethrough. Cable 103 then passes through passage 121
in bracket 120 and through tubing 130 to bracket 125 where it
passes through passage 126 forwardly and is attached to the
slideable bracket 75 on the left pedal lever. Cable 104 is attached
to the operating handle 100 as shown in FIG. 2 and passes therefrom
rearwardly through passage 122 in bracket 120 through the flexible
tubing 131 passage 127 in bracket 125 and thence forwardly over
pulley 128 and finally rearwardly to its point of attachment to the
slideable bracket 75 on the left pedal lever 71.
In as much as the cable systems for both the right and left sides
of the bicycle are attached to and are operated by the handle 100
and further that both the right and left system are arranged so
that the pedal lever brackets on both sides move the same distance
in the same direction at the same time it is apparent that the
effective lever arm of the pedal levers respectively for
transmitting movement to the reciprocating chain runs will be
simultaneously altered both as to direction and degree of movement
for any adjusting movement of the operating handle 100.
Consequently, the ratio of the drive power as applied to the
rotation of the driving ground wheel can be altered at will by the
rider by merely moving the operating handle 100 forwardly or
rearwardly as desired when the bicycle is in motion and is being
propelled.
It will also appear that the drive ratio is altered by a smooth and
infinitely variable shifting action rather than by a step by step
change characteristic of many conventional bicycles employing a
plurality of sprockets and a shiftable chain in association
therewith.
In FIG. 4 there is shown a modified type of gearing mechanism which
achieves the same result as that illustrated in FIG. 3. This form
of drive comprises two shafts 230 and 231 disposed one above the
other in a manner similar to the two shafts 30 and 31 shown in FIG.
3. A reciprocating endless chain 250 is also provided and is
mounted over sprocket 241 and pulley 260 mounted on the frame of
the bicycle. Sprocket 241 is mounted to oscillate on an axis which
is coaxial with shaft 230. Fixedly connected to oscillate with
sprocket 241 is a spur gear 270 which meshes in a one-to-one ratio
with spur gear 271 mounted to oscillate on an axis which is coaxial
with the axis of shaft 231. In addition to the foregoing there is a
sprocket 234 connected to be driven by shaft 230 by a one way
clutch drive such as that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and a sprocket 235
connected to be driven by shaft 231 by a similar one way clutch.
These one way clutch drives are so constructed that shaft 230
drives sprocket 234 in a direction to cause the sprocket chain 236
to drive sprocket 237 and its attached wheel in the direction to
propel the vehicle forwardly and the shaft 231 drives sprocket 235
in a direction to produce the same forward motion of the
vehicle.
Inasmuch as sprocket 241 and spur gear 270 are connected to move as
a unit it will be apparent that as the endless chain 250
reciprocates, spur gears 270 and 271 will oscillate at the same
time but in directions opposite at any one time and that the
sprockets 234 and 235 will be alternately propelled by the one way
clutches, to jointly drive the vehicle forwardly.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be noted that a suitable one
way clutch drive as required for this invention may comprise a
central shaft 90 on which sprocket 40 is mounted for oscillation.
Mounted on this same shaft is sprocket 34. These two sprockets have
interfitting hubs related in the manner shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Hub
93 is provided with a plurality of cam surfaces 94 and the hub 92
is provided with an inside cylindrical surface 95. Between surfaces
94 and 95 balls are provided and located in a manner to cooperate
with the surfaces 94 and 95 to cause sprocket 40 to drive the hub
93 and sprocket 34 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown by the
arrows in FIG. 6 when sprocket 40 turns in a counter-clockwise
direction.
It will be understood also that one way clutches of this or a
similar type are to be employed for connecting sprocket 41 to
sprocket 35 in the construction shown in FIG. 3 and for connecting
sprocket 241 to sprocket 234 and spur gear 271 to sprocket 235 in
the construction shown in FIG. 4.
* * * * *